Chapter 264 - Video chat (1)

JoAnna was picking the groceries, and Jeff went behind her pushing the cart, wondering what will she make with all the things she picked up. He didn't ask, seeing that she is enjoying herself. Jeff never did grocery shopping before, so this was a new experience for him. And because he got to share it with JoAnna he found it to be very memorable. He watched her move from one isle to another, while humming a tune and checking if the bell peppers are just right, and tomatoes perfectly ripe… it was a pleasure to see her like that.

However, when she went to the ice cream freezer, he had to speak up. "Do we really need more ice cream? Freezer is full of it." Internally, he complained. 'Who needs so much ice cream, anyway? JoAnna is eating too much junk food.' He started to worry that she will get sick.

She looked at him innocently. "Yes, but all is chocolate. I want vanilla."

"What?" Jeff felt like he is experiencing a déjà vu.*

"Why can't I have both? I like them both..." She flashed a smile and dived into the freezer to get vanilla flavored ice cream.

Jeff remembered that a little girl said the same thing** many years ago and smiled absentmindedly. With her smile and words, she took him back to the past, and he forgot his concern about her eating habits.

He was not sure why is he remembering those fragments from the past. Even if that little girl is not JoAnna it does not matter. He wanted to live in present, with her and not to waste a single second by dwelling on things which are not important.

They underestimated JoAnna's ability to shop and ended up taking much longer than planned. At the end, when they reached Jeff's apartment, JoAnna was upset that they are late for the call.

"Go and log in... I will keep the groceries in place and join.", he ushered her. Jeff was not excited about putting groceries in fridge and pantry, but he saw that JoAnna is upset about the call, so he took this task on himself in order to allow her to log in as soon as possible.

When JoAnna logged in, everyone else was there. Sophia and Felix in one and Sarah and Aiden in a second window.

"Hello" JoAnna greeted them. "Sorry about the delay…" She felt guilty about being late. It was her fault. She took too long picking items in the store.

"Where is Jeff?" Sarah asked right away.

"He will join in a minute." JoAnna saw smirk on Sarah's face. 'Is she going to tease me now?'

"Why is he late?" Sophia asked with a mischievous smile.

"We just got back..." JoAnna was suspicious that her sisters are in cahoots to tease her.

"Where have you been?" Sarah giggled.

"Can we skip the teasing part? It's nothing inappropriate!" JoAnna was getting desperate. She is the one who does most teasing, now that they are teasing her, it was not something she wanted to experience.

"You got to be kidding, right?" Sarah complained. "You are not wasting any opportunity to tease me... and now when the golden chance for revenge is in front of me, you want me to back off?"

"Yes, but I tease you when there is a smoke… and now there is absolutely nothing… " Jeff entered, and JoAnna pleaded. "Jeff, save me..."

"No one can save you...", Sarah started.

Sophia interrupted, "OK, OK... that's enough. Now that we are all here, let's talk about why we gathered."

Sarah pouted and JoAnna gloated, "Someone can save me."

Aiden was silently confirming to himself again, that all three sisters are very childish when it comes to teasing each other. Of course, he does not dare to say that aloud.

Sophia shushed JoAnna and started. "From my side, we can file the lawsuit against Gregory Light on Friday. Sarah, Aiden, will you be able to clear his accounts by then?"

JoAnna had a start. She thought that they will file the lawsuit on Monday. This is three days earlier than expected. The implication it brings, is that she will spend three less days with Jeff... or at least her excuse to be with him will expire three days earlier.

Sophia noticed change in JoAnna's expression when she mentioned that she will be ready on Friday and wanted to confirm her suspicions.

Sarah and Aiden confirmed that they can clear Dr. Light's accounts by Friday morning.

"Great!" Sophia exclaimed. "When you are done with that, he will not have a chance to post bail. That does not mean that someone else will not post the bail for him, but we count that his reputation will be smeared to the point where no one will want to support him. I will keep you up to date from my side, so you can coordinate your actions as needed."

Sophia found a chance to confirm her suspicions about JoAnna, and said, "JoAnna, you just need to stay put until we confirm that he is in jail. Then you can come back to Seattle."

"Yeah..." JoAnna sighed. Sophia's words that she can return to Seattle hit her like a thunderbolt.

Next to JoAnna, Jeff also had a troubled expression. He didn't want her to leave and he was still holding onto a sliver of hope that she will decide to stay. She has to stay, right? Because whenever he thinks that she will leave, he finds himself unable to breathe. She is his oxygen. He can't survive without her.

Sophia noticed JoAnna's lack of enthusiasm about coming back to Seattle. She also observed Jeff, but didn't say anything. She confirmed that JoAnna is not happy about coming back, but she is not rejecting the idea either. Sophia wants to talk to JoAnna and clarify things. For herself and possibly to help JoAnna decide. But she wants to do this in private, knowing that if she brings it up in front of everyone, it will make JoAnna uncomfortable.